Scroll down for a full 4-day itinerary and my gluten-free finds.
Cleveland, Ohio, was never on my list to visit. However, when my aunt and uncle were looking for another baseball stadium to mark off their buckle list, Cleveland seemed like the perfect place! Initially, when we first looked at what there was to do in Cleveland, we didn’t know how we were going to fill our time, but once we researched more, we saw just how much there was to do, and it was perfect for a 4 day weekend. The trip was full of culture, watching exciting sports, and seeing famous sites I will never forget. Let me tell you about my trip. I don’t usually add multiple photos to my posts, but I had to document everything since we did and saw so much!
Day 1: University Circle neighborhood, Little Italy, Mamma Santa’s
We arrived mid-afternoon, so we only had the night to venture around. We stayed at a cute Airbnb, which was a street away from Little Italy and within walking distance of the University Circle neighborhood and several museums. After settling, I walked through Little Italy and ate dinner at Mamma Santa’s. They had gluten-free pasta that they could use on any pasta dish. Once we were done with dinner, we went back to the Airbnb and got ready for the next day.
Day 2: The Arcade, Addy’s Diner, Progressive Field Tour, Willard Park, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Heinen’s Grocery Store
Day 3: Another Cleveland sign, Grumpy’s Cafe, The Christmas Story House, Another Arcade, Rocjerfeller Grave, The Guardians Baseball game
On the third day, we started our trip by going to another Cleveland sign in the Tremont neighborhood. Grumpy’s was on Good Morning America’s breakfast cookoff for their spicy hash! They had incredible gluten-free options, including their cinnamon roll pancake, which I had to get. We then walked 15 minutes to The Christmas Story House and Museum, where we got tickets for the tour when we got there. The tour was 30 minutes and allowed us in the main house, as well as the museum, with a tour guide. After the tour, we took an Uber back to our Airbnb in Little Italy, where we then walked to the famous Lake View Cemetary, where President Garfield and John Rockefeller are buried. After the cemetery, we went straight to Progressive Field for a Guardian’s game and fireworks.
Tip: Progressive Field has gluten-free hot dogs in Section 153
Day 4: Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Superman’s House, dessert in Little Italy
On the last day of the trip, we rented a car and took a day trip to Canton, Ohio (about 1 hour from Cleveland) to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was a dream come true for sports fans and a must-do if you have the time! I learned a lot about the past of American football, played with interesting displays, and was amazed by what football legends had done. After a couple of hours at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we went to Gervasi Vineyard for some wine and dinner. They had a full gluten-free menu and were knowledgeable about the gluten-free selection. We ordered a feta dip and a pizza. After dinner, we drove back to Cleveland by the house where Superman was created. There’s not much to do around it, so I recommend driving by. We then finished the night at Corbo’s Bakery, which has SO many gluten-free Italian desserts!
Our 4-day weekend was the perfect mix of learning about other cultures, sightseeing, and seeing famous landmarks. This trip was packed with things to do and a surprising adventure!
4 Day Weekend Itinerary
- Day 1: (Half day since we arrived in the afternoon), Walk around the University Circle Neighborhood, explore Little Italy and enjoy a gluten-free dinner at Mamma Santa’s.
- Day 2: Visit The Arcade, have breakfast at Addy’s Diner in The Arcade, take a tour of Progressive Field, explore Willard Park and see the largest stamp in the world, have lunch at Nuevo Modern Mexican and Tequila Bar, take a photo with the Cleveland Sign, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, get a snack or drink at Heinen’s Grocery Store.
- Day 3: Take another photo with the Cleveland Sign in the Tremont neighborhood (1430 Abbey Ave Cleveland, OH, 44113), from the Cleveland sign, have breakfast at Grumpy’s Cafe, take a tour of the Christmas Story House and Museum, visit the Lake View Cemetery, finish the night at a Cleveland Guardians baseball game where you can eat a gluten-free hot dog.
- Day 4: Rent a car and take a day trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, spend a couple of hours walking around the museum, grab dinner and wine at Gervasi Vineyard, head back to Cleveland and drive by Superman’s House, end the day at Corbo’s Bakery for gluten-free Italian desserts.
My Gluten-Free Finds:
- Mama Santa’s (Little Italy)
- Addy’s Diner (Downtown in The Arcade)
- Nuevo Modern Mexican and Tequila Bar (next to Rock Hall)
- Heinen’s Grocery Store (Downtown)
- Grumpy’s Cafe (Tremont Neighborhood)
- Progressive Field – Section 153 (gluten free hot dogs)
- Gervasi Vineyard (Canton, Ohio)
- Corbo’s Bakery (Little Italy)